During the PIP claim process, claimants are asked to provide any relevant evidence or information they already have that explains their circumstances (known as further evidence). Claimants can send supporting evidence with their ‘How your disability affects you’ form but they do not have to do so. Evidence might include:
• prescription lists
• care plans
• reports or information from professionals who help the claimant, such as a GP,
hospital doctor, specialist nurse, community psychiatric nurse, occupational therapist, social worker, counsellor or support worker. If appropriate when conducting an assessment and providing advice on a claim to DWP, Atos and Capita health professionals can consider requesting additional evidence to help them from people listed on the claimant’s form. Most assessments require a face-to-face consultation but some assessments can be completed on the basis of a review of the
available paper based evidence. We are investigating:
• how effectively further evidence is being used to assist the correct claim decision
and identify whether a face-to-face consultation is required
• the balance between how much and the type of evidence DWP sources and what the claimant is asked to provide.

“A great question refuses to be answered so it keeps leading us into deeper connections with each other into deeper thinking” – Judith Snow

Imagineer and EDG’s (www.edg-sco.org) ‘thinking’ begun in 2013. EDG had been exploring support brokerage training with the imminent introduction of the Scottish Government Self-Directed Support Scotland Act. A web search found Imagineer. We wanted to find people who were genuine and able to train us from real experience and with Inclusion at their heart. (Inclusion is about willingness to take a unique difference and develop it as a gift to others – it is not about disability Judith Snow).
Liz Leach came up to The Festival City in August 2013 and stayed for 6 days in my Edinburgh Flat. On Monday morning at the Ellersley House Hotel 3 EDG team members with 1 team member from Inclusion Alliance and 3 team members from The Thistle Foundation all immersed ourselves in the National support brokerage course for the next 5 days.
By the end of the 5 days it was clear that EDG and Imagineer were like-minded organisations. Later in 2014 Liz came back to Scotland to run another national support brokerage course for other professionals and remaining EDG team members.
Over the last 3 years as we have learned more about our 2 organisations we recognise our shared ‘values of inclusion’ as described by Heather Simmons on youtube.
Everyone is born ‘in’.
All mean ‘All’
Everyone needs to be ‘in’
Everyone is ready
Everyone needs support
Everyone can learn
Everyone can contribute
Everyone contribute
TOGETHER WE ARE BETTER
So as we have made, ‘deeper connections’, we asked the question, Cities across the world twin with each other so why not organisations?
EDG and Imagineer have decided to twin not just sharing social media links but also to explore skills match – what skills do we have and what could we share with each other, dedicate so many days to each other each year ………… so it keeps leading us into deeper connections with each other into deeper thinking. Leading to positive inclusion for all.

Accessible holiday accommodation

I always thought that going away for a stay in a hotel, or organising a holiday was a nice, relatively easy task to organise and carry out. It is only since beginning my work placement at Imagineer Development UK CiC as part of my Social Work degree that I have fully realised just how difficult it can be to find fully accessible holiday accommodation.

However, after a long search I believe that the solution for this problem can be found at Disabled Holiday Directory, which can be accessed at http://www.disabledholidaydirectory.co.uk/ which has a wide range of fully accessible holidays across both the UK and elsewhere. This website features online booking forms and a 24/7 helpline to make booking accommodation even easier.

What are you waiting for? Get looking for your perfect, fully accessible holiday accommodation now!

Summer Fundraising Day – 2015

On August 8th Imagineer are opening their offices to have a bit of fun and raise some money for The Outsiders Tour Bus Fund. We do hope you come along and enjoy your day with us

Hollingworth Lake Walk – 2015

On 7th May 2015 The Student Social Workers who were on placement with Imagineer did a sponsored walk around Hollingworth lake. The whole way around the lake is around 2.5 miles. Some of Imagineer Staff came along and took part in the walk also.

Ben Nevis – 2015

For part of our fundraising in 2015 Liz Leach and Nigel Murphy climbed Ben Nevis which is is the highest mountain in the British Isles. Standing at 1,344 metres above sea level, it is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands.

The Three Peaks Fundraiser 2014

At Imagineer we support people with learning, physical or a mental illness to live a life of their choice in a way that works best for them. We create opportunities that enable people to develop and shape their own aspirations and future. There are over 10 million disabled adults in the UK, 24% of the adult population and nearly 8 million adults of working age have a disability, this is 20% of adult population. Some of these people are unable to use services due to lack of funds with the recent budget cuts from the government therefore, at Imagineer we strive to raise as much money as possible through our fundraising events, aiming to give people the support they want, need and deserve to prevent isolation, social exclusion and encourage empowerment. What may seem the little things to some such as going shopping or meeting new people may be a big thing or difficult to someone else, at Imagineer we understand and value this.

Our Fundraising event ‘The Three Peaks’ North Yorkshire is a great experience where you can take in the sights of the beautiful countryside, visit local towns and have lunch at the local restaurants as well as raise money for a great cause. We aim to do the challenge within one day So far we have 9 people joining us; this is a mixture of staff, student, friends and family of Imagineer. If you are ready for the challenge, pick up the phone and contact Lauren on 01422 363817.

Snowdon Challenge 2013

We climbed Snowdon on the 24th May 2013; we had a good team of people to come with us. Next time the more the merrier!

Or get in touch with the Imagineer team on 01422 363817 we are also looking for corporate sponsorship for the event if your organisation would be interested in supporting Imagineer Development CIC in this capacity.